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Richard "Rick" Bissonette
May 11, 1957 - February 3, 2021
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<div itemprop="description">Rick Bissonette<br><br>May 11, 1957 - February 3, 2021<br><br>Richard (Rick) Grenville Bissonette, son, brother, father, uncle, and grandfather, has passed away at the age of 63 years old. He was born in Cornwall, Ontario to John (Jack) Bissonette and Betty-Marie Henderson (née Mitchell; formerly Bissonette). He had four siblings, Christine MacKenzie, Deborah (Debbie) Radu, Mark Bissonette, and Trudy Henderson. He had two sons, James Bissonette and Jordan Bissonette, by his former wife, Elizabeth (Libby) Bissonette (née Watt). His nieces and nephews included Corrine, Derek, Jessica, Joshua, and Leah. He had a grandson, Henry, with another grandchild expected in April.<br><br>Rick grew up in New Westminster, British Columbia, and joined the Canadian Armed Forces at the age of 17 in 1974. His 20 years of service included a tour as a peacekeeper in Cyprus from 1975 to 1976, and four years in Germany from 1986 to 1990. After retiring from military service with the rank of Warrant Officer, he embarked on a career in technical publications for the aerospace industry. His professional and personal travels took him across Canada and the United States of America, all over Europe, and also included memorable trips to India. His final years were marred by poor health, until he succumbed to complications from COVID-19.<br><br>Rick had a strong personality, razor sharp wit, and a tremendous sense of humour. To know him was to reckon with his deep intellect, a gift for telling entertaining stories regardless of their relevance to the matter at hand, and a laugh that seemed to emanate from his entire body countered by a quick temper. He could be by turns compassionate, caring, silly, infuriating, and authoritative. He could, and often would speak at great length about the topics that interested him, including politics, history, theology and religion, family history, and baseball, drawing upon a deep well of research and experience. A simple question could often lead to several hours of sprawling conversation. He has greatly impacted the lives of those who knew him, and was the sort of man whose reputation preceded him.<br><br>Rick would often say that death only hurts the living; indeed, he is at peace now, with his beloved Grandma Jean Mitchell, mother Betty-Marie, and brother Mark. His preferred epitaph reads, "I was homesick for a place I'd never been. I've gone home, where the water tastes like wine."<br><br>Memorial services will be held at a time and place to be determined. By Rick's request, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Breakfast Club of Canada, at the following link: https://www.breakfastclubcanada.org/ <br></div>